Heeeeeelllllp knackered alternator

Does anyone know if I can get a recon alternator in the North London area, as mine has packed in at the most inappropriate time and need the car for work on Monday. Any help would be much appreciated

landy8088109 said:

Does anyone know if I can get a recon alternator in the North London area, as mine has packed in at the most inappropriate time and need the car for work on Monday. Any help would be much appreciated

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London & Essex Auto Electrics Ltd - Home

i recently used bexley alternators and starters but i doubt you will get a turn around that quick and their south london bit of a trek for you, they did do a good job on mine tho have you tried euro car parts? they keep a huge stock

Burghfield Starter & Alternator Centre - 01189832284

Eurocarparts - Watford, Finchley & Edmonton in North London.

Or nip out and get a controller and brush set, about twenty quid and half an hours work may fix it. Sorry forgot you're in London, make that sixty quid.

Most decent Autofactors will stock an Alternator for you...BUT make sure it fits, I tried CAFCO (as was) and it was totally the wrong one!

Thanks for the info. Just checked the voltage at the back of the alternator and it 14.5v but over the battery it's 12.5v. Could the battery be at fault?

no you need a charge voltage of that at least or it wont work

I thought you got closer to 13.5v over the battery terminals? Just seems low to me. It also clicked on the starter a couple of times then slowly fired up, it didn't turn over before it started just had a laboured start like a flat battery, drove it 35 miles stopped it and it started straight away no problems

12.5 at battery engine running is too low!

Check all engine earth straps, and all connections to the fuse box! Alternator output of 14.5 seems fine...just not getting full whack to the battery...

Just checked the thin wire from the back of the alternator and it had been repaired in the past, just remade the connection and at idle I'm now getting 13.4. Seems better. Goes to 13.8 when revved slightly. It does have an annoying whining noise coming from it so think it's on it's last legs

my alternator wows so good info here
http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f10/complete-p38-electrical-failure-oops-what-surprise-lol-269541.html

landy8088109 said:

Just checked the thin wire from the back of the alternator and it had been repaired in the past, just remade the connection and at idle I'm now getting 13.4. Seems better. Goes to 13.8 when revved slightly. It does have an annoying whining noise coming from it so think it's on it's last legs

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Depending on the year of the car 13.8 may be correct but it's low for current battery technology, if you replace or repair your alternator, go for a set point of 14.2/14.5 volts.

It's a 1999 4.6 with the 150amp alternator. Don't know how good the battery is either as it's a spare one I had kicking around in the back of my series 3. What is the set point people are talking about?

Set point is the regulated output voltage of the alternator....back in the old days with Lead Acid batterys the set point was lower to prevent the battery over heating during a charge...nowadays with modern Calcium type batteries, the set point is higher....a high output is not to detrimental to older batteries, just not ideal.

Range Rovers HATE weak/tired/old batteries as they are very power hungry vehicles....change the battery for a known good one/new and start from there.....having a known weak point in the electrical system is asking for issues!

landy8088109 said:

It's a 1999 4.6 with the 150amp alternator. Don't know how good the battery is either as it's a spare one I had kicking around in the back of my series 3. What is the set point people are talking about?

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If it's a MY 1999 4.6 and 150 amp unit set point should be 14.5 volts. It is the output voltage of the alternator. Just after start up you should see 14.5 volts across the battery terminals. You should also see 14.5 volts across battery with heater fans and headlamps on at 2000 RPM. Have the battery tested.

If the alternator is whining it probably needs new slip rings. I got replacement slip-rings, brushes & both bearings from JCRsupplies via eBay. £26 for the whole lot.

DURITE, DIALS GAUGES items in JCR SUPPLIES AUTO ELECTRICAL PARTS store on eBay!

Call them to check exact alternator model number, and they will tell you the right part numbers for yours.

Item # Item Title Quantity Price Amount
310861097616 FIAT MAGNETTI MARELLI A127i ALTERNATOR SLIP RING REF 138441
1 £4.85 £4.85
310499428355 LUCAS and MAGNETI MARELLI ALTERNATOR BRUSH SET 4MM X 7MMX 19MM REF5411
1 £4.62 £4.62
111266513211 6303 and 6003 RUBBER SHEILDED ROLLER BEARINGS FOR BOSCH UNITS
1 £12.85 £12.85
Subtotal: £22.32
Postage and packaging via Royal Mail 1st Class: £4.20
Total £26.52

Datatek said:

Depending on the year of the car 13.8 may be correct but it's low for current battery technology, if you replace or repair your alternator, go for a set point of 14.2/14.5 volts.

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Is there any way of resetting a 13.8 to the higher setting?

tomcat59alan said:

Is there any way of resetting a 13.8 to the higher setting?

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It is (or was) possible to modify the regulator if you know what you are doing. The easy way is to just install a new regulator with a higher set point, not expensive these days.